History of Queens, New York, USA

1854 - Queen's
Queen's, a county in the S. E. part of New York, has an area of about 420 square miles. It is situated in the western part of Long island, and is bounded on the N. by Long Island sound, and on the S. by the Atlantic ocean. Its shores are indented with numerous bays and inlets, which afford some excellent harbors, and great facilities for navigation and for fisheries. The surface is slightly uneven: Harbor hill, in North Hempstead, is the greatest elevation. The soil, when well cultivated, is very productive, and supplies large quantities of fruit and vegetables to the New York markets. Wheat, Indian corn, potatoes, and grass are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 124,494 1/ 2 bushels of wheat ; 403,706 of corn ; 807,551 of potatoes; 48,027 1/ 2 tons of hay, and 561,230 pounds of butter. There were 86 flour mills, 4 woollen factories, 6 paper mills, 4 tin-ware manufactories, 6 coach factories, and 1 ship-yard. It contained 60 churches. 4 newspaper offices ; 5254 pupils attending... Read MORE...

1895 - Queens
Queens, a southeastern county of New York, is a part of Long Island. Area, about 250 square miles. It is bounded on the N. by Long Island Sound, and on the S. by the Atlantic Ocean. The western part of it is contiguous to Brooklyn and to the East River, which separates it from the city of New York. The surface is moderately uneven. The soil is fertile. Hay, Indian corn, potatoes, milk, and butter are the staple products. It is intersected by the Long Island Railroad, several branches of which connect at Jamaica, the capital. Pop. in 1870, 73,803; in 1880, 90,574; in 1890, 128,059.

Queens, a post-village of Queens co., N.Y., in Jamaica township, on the Long Island Railroad, 14 miles E. of Brooklyn, and 3 mile from Creedmore. It has 2 churches and a carriage-shop. Pop. about 400.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1902 - BOILER EXPLOSION KILLS TWO MEN
Pumping Station on Shore Road in Queens Destroyed.

Trees Broken Off - Windows Shattered Half a Mile Away - Steel Plates Had Been Worn Thin - Story of an Eye Witness.

Two men were killed and one of the pumping stations of the city's water supply system on the Shore Road in Queens Borough totally destroyed by an explosion yesterday morning. One of the two big boilers which furnished the power for the pumps blew up. Windows were shattered in buildings half a mile away. Fortunately there was no building, except some greenhouses, closer than 2,000 feet to the pumping station.

The men dead were:

DIHBY, WILLIAM, forty-five years of age, married, with five children who lived at 182 East Fourth Street, Long Island City, engineer of the plant; on duty at the time.

NELSON, JAMES, forty years of age, same address, wife and eight children, fireman; on duty at the time.

The explosion occurred at 8:31 o'clock yesterday morning. The plant was sheltered in a brick building 50 by 50... Read MORE...

1906
Queens, a borough of the city of New York, dating as such from Jan. 1, 1898. It comprises the former city of Long Island City and the former towns of Newtown, Flushing, and Jamaica, together with a district formerly included in the town of Hempstead.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1909 - September 30 - Queensboro Bridge opens, linking Manhattan & Queens

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1910 - TRAGIC DEATH OF ASHFIELD MAN. Fred R. Church Killed on the Long Island Railroad Yesterday.
Word was received at Shelburne Falls yesterday morning of the accidental death at the Queens station of the Long Island railroad of Fred R. Church, so of George B. Church in the Baptist Corner district of Ashfield. The body will be taken to Shelburne Falls and from there to Ashfield. He was 31 years of age, a graduate of Sanderson academy, Ashfield, and the state college at Amherst. After leaving the collage he took a position as foreman on a large farm in the state of New York, from which he retired a few years ago. He did some work at the experiment station in Amherst and later took a position with the Sanderson fertilizer company of New Haven, Ct., as traveling salesman. Besides his parents, he leaves a widow, two children and two sisters. Mr. Church was instantly killed while trying to board a moving electric train. He lost his balance after grasping the [?] railing of the car, and fell and was crushed between the car and the platform.
The Springfield Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
March 18, 1910

1918 - 27 HURT IN CRASH OF B. R. T. TRAINS - Rear-End Collision Due to a Heavy Fog and Defective Motor.
TWO CARS DEMOLISHED

Effort to Fix Blame for Accident Will Be Made Today Before Magistrate.

Twenty-seven men and women were hurt in the wreck of two cars of B. R. T. elevated trains of the Liberty Avenue line at the Oxford Avenue Station, Queens, yesterday afternoon, caused by a rear-end collision in the fog, which prevented the motorman of the rear train seeing the one ahead. Some of the injured were among the persons on the platform. They were hit by parts of the demolished cars. Four trains bound from Park Row, Manhattan, to Morris Park, the terminal, were at the station, and many of the cars and a large part of the platform were crowded.

The injured were taken into the waiting room until the arrival of ambulances from St. Mary's, Bradford Street and the Jamaica Hospitals, and after all had received medical attention three persons were taken to hospitals. They were Motorman Abraham Perry, of Sheridan Avenue, Brooklyn; Rose Bloom, 50 West Seventy-Sixth Street, Manhattan, and ... Read MORE...

1936 - July 11 - Triborough Bridge linking Manhattan, Bronx & Queens opens

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1939 - April 29 - Whitestone Bridge connecting Bronx & Queens opens

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1940 - November 15 - NY Midtown tunnel linking Manhattan and Queens opens to traffic

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1941 - December 6 - NYC Council agrees to build Idlewild (Kennedy) Airport in Queens

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2023 - Queens is a fantastic borough with a rich cultural tapestry and plenty of things to see and do. Here's a diverse list to get you started:
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park: Start your Queens adventure at this iconic park. You can visit the Queens Museum, which houses the Panorama of the City of New York, and the Queens Botanical Garden. Don't forget to take a stroll around the Unisphere, a symbol of the 1964 World's Fair.

Queens Botanical Garden: Located within Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, this garden offers a peaceful escape from the city's hustle and bustle. It's a beautiful place to explore various themed gardens and enjoy seasonal blooms.

Queens Museum: This museum not only features rotating contemporary art exhibitions but also the aforementioned Panorama of the City of New York, a detailed scale model of the entire city. It's a fascinating way to see how Queens fits into the larger New York City landscape.

Queens Zoo: Located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, this small but charming zoo is perfect for a family outing. You can see animals like sea lions, pumas, and Andean bears.

Astoria: This neighborhood is ... Read MORE...